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J. 0. BRADNEY AND H. PRIESTER.

AUTOMATIC LOADEH FOR TIE AND TIMBER PILERS.

APPLICATION men NOV. 4. 1918.

I 1,311,210 Patented July 29, 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH C0,, WASHIN TON, 9.. c.

1. 0. BRADNEYAND H. P RIESTER.

AUTOMATIC LOADER FOR TIE AND TIMBER PILERS.

AP PucATmN min NOV. 4. I918 Patented July 29, 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60-, WASHINGTON, D, C.

1.0. BRADNEY AND H. PRIESTER.

AUTOMATIC LOADER FOR TIE AND TIMBER P |LERS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV, 4. 1918.

Patented July 29, 1919.

6 SHEETSSHEET 3:

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.mwdrm THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

J. 0. BRADNEY AND H. PRIESTER.

AUTOMATIC LOADER FOR TIE AND TIMBER PILERS.

APPLICATlON FILED, NOV.4. l9I84 6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Patented July 29 J. OfBRADNEY AND H. PR-IESTER. AUTOMATIC LOADER FOR TIE AND TIMBER PIIL'ERS.

APPLICATION mmuuv; 4. I918;

Patented July 29, 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

T n 1 z M L z O o NZ 1. 0. BRADNEY AND H. PRlESTER.

AUTOMAHC LOADER FOR TIE AND TIMBER PI LERS.

Patented July 29' APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4.1918.

e SHEETS-SHEET a.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0. WASHINGTON, D. c.

UNITED STATES. PATENT orruon.

JAMES O. BRADNEY AND HENRY PRIESTEB, F MIDDLETOWN, NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC LOADER FOR AN D TIMBER PILERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 29,1919.

Application filed November 4, 1918. Serial No. 261,116.

and HENRY PRIESTER, citizens of the United 1 States, residing at lWiddlet-own, in the county of Orange and State of New York,

have invented certain new and useful Im- ,prov'ements in Automatic Loaders for Tie and Timber Pilers, of which the followingis a specification.

The primary object of the invention 1s the provision of an automatic loading device for.

l a timber or tie piling machine whereby the I ing conditions of timbers or ties are automatically fed from a source of supply onto the pil ng mechanism, the arrangement'being such that a continuous supply of ties or timbers is automatically.

furnished to the piler during the operation of the latter.- a

A further objectof the invention is the provision of an automatic feeder in the na-' ture of an attachment or accessory to a pile-r of the class covered by the Hilke Patent No.

1,053,891, the operation of the loader being accomplished by an engagement of a movable portion of the piler therewith when the f loader. The invention further contemplates the provision of a timber piler or elevator in the form of a truck adapted'for traveling either upon the ground or a track and arranged with a power plant adapted for control at opposite points upon the truck, while the wheels of the truck are swiveled for adjustment permitting travel in any direction de-. sired. A loader for the piler is arranged at one side thereof adapted to be upwardly folded against the side of the piler when not in usebut arranged substantially horizontal when in its operative position, while the power plant of the piler is serviceable in adjusting the horizontal position of the loader the source of supply to the p e and is arranged with separate controlling means ad acent those provided for the power plant. When the loader is operatively positioned, the piler may be working continuously without influencing the loader but an oncoming tie will automatically position the mechanism of the loader into engageable proximity with a movable portion of the piler whereby the loader will be actuated for moving timbers forwardly upon the piler to be elevated and deposited as found desirable during the piling operation.

l/Vith these general objects in view and others that will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and then claimed.

In the drawings forming a part of this application,

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the lower portion of thefront side of .a piler upon which our loader is adapted to be mounted, the piler being provided with additional mechanism incident to the operation of the loader when associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the lower forward portion of the piler with the loader mounted thereon, the latter being indicated by dotted lines for illustrating the manner of folding the loader as well as the Vertical adjustability thereof"; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the loader detached, the position of the mounting I-beam at one side of the piler being indicated by dotted lines while the loader mechanism is shown in its operative arrangement being so positioned automatically by the ties to be loaded and which are indicated by dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the piler;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged front elevation of a portion of the same partially broken away, parts being indicated by dotted lines and other parts being removed;

Fig; 6 is a top plan view of the loader detached witha side portion removed;

Fig. '7 is a: sectional view taken through a side portion of the device upon line VII- 'VII ofFiguG;

'Fig. 8 is a detailed view of the roller clutch employed therewith;

Flg. 9 is a sectional view of the adjustable anchoring member taken upon line IX-IX of Fig. 6; and

Fig. -10 is a vertical sectional detailed view of the same; and

Fig. 11 is a detailed view illustrating the manner of mounting different members upon the side beams of the tower frame.

Our invention relates to an automatic loader for a piling machine, the construction and operation of such a machine 10 will first be briefly noted and thereafter, our automatic loader 11 will be specifically described including its manner of adjustable mounting upon the piler 10, its mode of operation by the piler mechanism when automatically shifted to its operative position by the work and also the manner of vertically adjusting the loader 11 by means of the power plant 12 of the said piler 10.

The piler 10 comprises a truck 13 mounted for movement upon wheels 14 being adjustably swiveled by means of heads 15 with 'the four corners of the truck, said wheels tion.

being adapted for positioning at any desired uniform angles for permitting the movement of the truck 13 in any desired direc- Opposite side frames 16 of I-beam formation are arranged upright on the truck 13 adjacent the opposite ends thereof, an endless chain 17 being slidably arranged upon the continuous periphery of each of said frames 16. The frames 16 are substantially triangular in form having suitably The said end portions 20 of the frames '16 are provided with slots 22 through which sprocket wheels 23 are adapted to project for operatively mounting the chains 17 thereon, the said wheels 23 being secured to the shaft 19. Opposite positloned idler sprockets 24 are preferably arranged for the chain 18 upon a stud-shaft 25 journaled in the said brackets 21 and which idler sprockets may be employed as slack adjusters if desired. The mechanism of the power plant 12 designed for operating the power chain 18 is arranged with controlling levers 26 conveniently positioned adjacent the opposite ends of the truck 13 whereby the movement of the chains 17 may be started and stopped at will. Substantially U-shaped brackets or carriers 27 are mounted upon the outer sides of the chain 17 equally spaced apart for receiving timbers such as boards and ties within the corresponding opposite brackets 27 of the two chains 17 for moving the same upwardly 'atflone side of the tower formed by the frame 16 and downwardly to the desired distance at the other or rear side of the device after the manner of operation set. forth in the Hilke patent heretofore noted. Hoisting mechanism 28 for a davit rope 29 is mounted upon the truck 13 operated by the power plant 12 under the regulation of controllers 30' positioned at opposite ends of the truck adjacent the aforementioned levers 26. The loader 11 comprises a base 31 shiftably mounted upon the I-beams 32 at the front of the truck 13 substantially A shaped pairs of brackets 33 being included as a part of the said base in which a main shaft 34 is jour naled extending transversely of the loader and piler. Vertical brace plates'35 are arranged at the opposite ends of the base 31 with upper and lower channel bars 36 and 37 respectively connected therebetween and upon which channel bars the pairs of brackets 33 are mounted.

A means is provided for--elevating the loader 11 to the desired height-while the same descends of its own weightiupon being released after being onceelevated. Such elevating means consists of arope 38 having'its ends secured'for winding upon connected with the power plant 12 of the truck 13 and controlledbymeans of hand levers 41 arranged at the opposite ends of the truck adjacent the: levers'26 and controllers 30. The rope 38 passes upwardly within the tower of the piler10 and over sheaves 9, arranged in anysuitablemanner adjacent the top thereof and thencepasses downwardly and is attached in any convenient manner to the base 31 of the loader 11. The rope 38 has itsdepending central portion arranged tln'oughpulleys 8 carried by brackets 7 adjacent the opposite corners of the base 31 of the loader 11 andwhereby the loader-is shiftably supported by the said rope 3S. U-shaped brackets 6 are mounted upon the carriers 27 adapted to span the adjacent chain 17 and having rollers 5 for traveling upon the inner face of the outer flange 4 of the I-beams 32 of the tower.

Bracket blocks 42 are arranged adjacent each corner of the base'31 of the loader, the upper ones ofsaid blocks having rollers 43 adapted for traveling upon the outside of the inner flanges 44 of the adjacent front I-beams 32 of the frames '16 of the piler tower, as best illustrated in Fig. 11. The lower brackets 42 are arranged with rollers 45 adapted to travel upon the inner sides of mg indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4 of 'drums 39 carried by a-sha ft 40 operatively the said inner flanges 44 ofthe' front beams the drawings while its lowermost position is similarly, indicated in Fig. 2. V

"The portion of the loader 11 which is adapted to receive'the articles to be loaded, such as lumber, timbers and ties, is in the form of a table 46 hinged upon the main shaft 34-and arranged substantially horizontally for receiving and feeding the goods such as ties 47 toward the piler 10 and into the carriers 27 thereof. Arms 48 formed of truss-work spaced apart and having connectors 49 constitute the opposite sides of the table 46, being journaled upon the shaft 34 and having heel portions 50 at their in ner ends for engaging the lower'channel bar 37 of the base 31 for limiting the down ward hinging movement of the table 46. A sprocket wheel 51 is mounted by means of a roller clutch 52 upon a-collar 53keyed to the'shaft 34 between the ,side trusses of the armj48, it being'un'derstood that the corn struction of each opposite arm of the table 46 isidentical so that only one thereof need be described herein. 1 A sprocket wheel 54 is journaled adjacent the free outer end of the arm 48 while a sprocket chain 55 runs over the said sprocket wheels '51 and 54, in the upper ply of" the chain 55 arranged to travel in an exposed position above the top of the arm, so that a tie'47 when positioned upon the table 46 will rest upon the chains 55 of the opposite armsg48 for feeding forward towardj the pilerlO during the simultaneous movements of the chains 55. The arms 48 are suitably connected together by suitable diagonal braces 56 and a forwardly positioned transverse brace 57, it being understood that the table 46 may be swung upwardly upon the shaft 34 as a hinge for positioning the table inoperatively against the adj acent side of the piler1O when not in use, as roughly indicated in dotted lines of Fig. 2 of the drawings. A ready meansfor inoperatively positioning the table 46 when lowered may be employed if desired, one form of which is roughly indicated herein, consisting of a' shaft 58 journaled upon the rear sides of the front beams 32 for winding up'cords 59 attached to the front brace 57 of the table 46. A turn crank 60 is provided for, the table 46 as well as a pawl 61 and ratchet wheel 62. By turning the crank 60 for winding up the cords 59, the table 46 will be swung upwardly against the piler 10 and retained in that position until the pawl 61 is released. A pendant 63 having a hub 64 is arranged upon the outer side of each arm48 journaled upon the axle 65 of a sprocket wheel 66 keyed upon theouter reduced end 67 'of the shaft 34. The sprocket wheel 66 is in this manner arranged within the hub 64'while ball-bearings 68 are interposed between; the aXle 65 and the adjacent "sides of the pendant hub 64. A similar sprocket wheel. 69 is journaled adjacent the opposite free end of the pendant 63 within takeup blocks 70 while a sprocket chain 71 is positioned over the said wheels 66- and 69. Ball bearings 72 are interposedbetween the shaft 34 and one of the brackets 33 while the coiiperating'bracket 33 of the pair of brackets at that side of the table 46 is arranged adjacent a block 73 keyed upon the shaft 34. Hubs 74 are formed upon the "adjacent brackets 33, the- .34 and provided with a retaining catch or hook 81 swingingly mounted upon spaced plates 82 carried by the upper channel bar 36 and in the perforation 83 of which plates the hub 78 of the wheel 80 is journaled. It will be understood that in the event of a shifting of the sprocket chain 71 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3 of the drawings by any means,such for instance as the trip hook84 carried by the said chain 71, the shaft 34'will be rotated for winding up the adjacent spring 76 so that upon releasing the hook 84, the shaft 34 and the chain 71 will be automatically returned to their normal positions. The wheel 80 and catch 81 constitute an adjustable anchoring means for the inner ends of the spring 76 while the sprocket wheel 66 at the opposite ends of the shaft 34 simultaneously operate to wind up the spring 76 while upon the release of the chain 71, the sprocket wheels 66 are given a reverse rotation.

A trip block 85 is carried by the sprocket chain 71 provided with a transversely arranged shock-absorbing pin 86 cushioned by means of a spring 87, the ends of the pin 86 being adapted for V engaging upright stops 88 at the top of the pendant 63 for limiting the return movement of the chain 71 for maintaining the latter as Well as the hook 84 normally arranged when the device is at rest. By further considering the clutch 52 of the sprocket wheel 51 of the tie conveying chain 55, it will be seen that when the chain 71 moves in the direction indicated-by thearrow in Fig. 3, the shaft 34 and its collar 53 will freely turn within the sprocket wheel 51 without moving the chain 55, or in other words, the chain 55 will never be moved with its upper side or ply traveling outwardly. Upon the return movement of the chain 71, however, the clutch 52 will become automatically engaged for connecting the sprocket wheel 51 with the collar 53 so that the chain 55 will at such times be moved, and its direction of movement will be inwardly toward the base 31 of the loader carrying the tie 47 therewith. An idler sprocket 89 is carried by the arm 48 engaging beneath the lower ply of the chain 55, preventing the said chain from sagging.

The setting levers 90 and 91 are pivoted as at 92 and 93 respectively upon the outer side of the arm 48, a link 94 being pivotally connected between the said levers. A rod 95 pivotally connects the forwardly positioned lever 90 with the lower end portion 96 of the pendant 63 as at 97.

A desirable length of gravity conveying rolls 98 is provided as an approach to the table 46, being detachably connected to projecting pins 99 at the forward L-shaped end portion 100 of the arms 48, adjustable struts 101 being arranged for supporting the said lengths of rolls if desired. The advancing tie 47 engages the opposite setting levers 90, pivotally moving such levers downwardly thereby swinging the pendants 63 upon the shaft 34 for arranging the trip hooks 84 of the pendant chains 71 within the upward path of movement of trip pins 102 secured to thecarriers 27 of the chains 17 and projecting inwardly toward each other as best illustrated in Fig. 5 [of the drawings. The carrying of the trip hooks 84 upwardly by the pins 102 moves the chains 71 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3 of the drawings, thereby setting the springs 76 for operating the sprockets 51 to move the ties 47 inwardly upon the chains 55. The setting block 85 of each pendant 63 being carried by the chains 71 thereof moves downward simultaneously with the upward movement of its trip hook 84, thereby bringing the block 85 in contact with the roller end 103 of a bell crank rocker 104 pivoted upon the outer face of the arm 48. A slider bar 105 is connected to the other end of the rocker 104having a bent extension 106 pivotally connected to the depending end 107 of a substantially Z-shaped buffer 108 having a bumper 109 normally projecting above the level of the carrying arm 48. The bumper 109 is arranged with a shock absorbing spring 110 within the buffer 108 while the latter is pivoted to the arm as at 111.

A similar buffer 108 is pivoted as at 111 upon the arm 48 inwardly of the bufi'er 108 and having a similar bumper 109 normally arranged above the top of the said arm.

The depending end 107 of the buffer 108 has a loose pivotal connection 112 with the bar 105.

It will be seen that therocking of the arm 104 caused by the setting block 85 forces the slide bar 105 inwardly toward the base 31, thereby depressing the bumpers 109 and 109, beneath the level of the upper ply of the carrying chain and permitting the ties 47 to be carried by the chains 55 in wardly to the piler. During the return upward movement of the setting block 85 the chain 55 carries the ties 47 toward the piler and the rocker arm 104 being released, the spring 113 returns the slider bar 105 and the buffer 108 to their normal positions while a spring 114 returns the buffer 108 to its normal arrangement, the bumpers 1 0-9 and 109 being then elevated for engagement by a succeeding tie 47.

The device is arranged so that the movements of the carriers 27 of the piler 10 will set the loading springs 76 by engaging the pins 102 with the hooks 84, such mechanism being timed so that the trip hooks 84 are always released from the pins 102 at the correct instant for loading the tie 47 into the adjacently positioned carriers 27 of the piler. A return spring 115 is provided for the pendant 63 preferably having a shiftable guide strip 116 and whereby it will be seen that when the levers 90 and 91 are released by the ties 47 moving away from the tops of the said levers, the spring 115 will swing the pendant 63 away from the piler with the trip hook 84 out of the path of movement of the trip pins 102, thereby interrupting the operation of the loading mechanism until another tie 47 passes clownwardly upon the table 46, depressing either or both of the setting levers 90 and 91, the bumpers 109 and 109 being adapted for the cushioning engagement of the ties therewith.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the engagement of the pin 102 with the hook 84 moves the hook upwardly to the top of the pendant 63 where it passes out of the path of the pin 102 over the top of the sprocket 66 and that after the pin 102 has passed beyond the trip hook 84, the said hook is rapidly returned to its original position by the action of the springs 76. The blocks 85 are adapted for setting the timber loading mechanism as well as to limit the return movement or travel of the pendant chains 71. I

The block 85 engages the operating roller 103 of the rocker arm 104 just before the trip hook 84 is freed by the pin 102, the said block 85 passing in between the pendant 63 and the roller 103, and during the initial return upward movement of the block 85, the roller 103 engages the adjacent faces 117 of the block 85 holding the rocker arm 104 against movement during the first few instants of operative travel of the chain 55 and consequently inward movements of the ties 47. In this manner,'the bumpers 109 and 109 are retained depressed during a portion of the inward operative travel of the chains 55, permitting the ties 47 to pass toward the piler before the saidbumpers snap or spring back to their normal elevated operative positions. The tie 47 resting against the first or forward bumpers 109. passes toward the second bumpers 109 of and being limited by the'length of return travel of the trip hooks 84, the length of travel of the chains is accurately timed for loading the inwardly positioned tie 47' upon adjacently positioned carriers 27 of the piler. t

A serviceable loader for piling machines of the type noted is arrangedby means of which ties, timbers, boards and the like may be quickly and systematically fed to the piler and great quantities of material thereby handled expeditiously, the loader ll-being entirely automatic in its action exceptingthe adjustment of thesame vertically which is regulated from either end of the device by the hand levers 41. In the absence of any goods such as ties 47 being supplied upon the table 46, the loader will be inoper a tive as the hooks 84 will be positioned out of the path of movement of the trip pins 102 but at any time that a tie 47 forcibly travels upon the table 46, the'loader will be automatically placed inits operative ari rangement ready for actuation during the running of the piler 1O. "The approaehf98 is readily detached from the loader l1 and the latter folded up against the bracework 118 arranged between the tower frames '16 at the forward side, of the truck13. The

device possesses great strength, is readily supplied as an attachment to a piler andfrequires only slight attention by the operator. The form of the invention herein set forth being by way of illustration is thought to be preferable although minor changes may be the actuating means outof the path of move-.

ment of the piler mechanism, and automatic shiftlng means for the au m c means adapted for positioning the actuating means within the operative path of movement of the piler mechanism.

2. A device of the class described comprising in combination with a piler, a vertically adjustable loader associated with the piler, feeding means upon the loader adapted for stepby-step operations, actuating means for the said feeding means adapted for operation during the operation of the piler, means adapted for normally maintaining the actuating Vmeansout of the path of movement of the piler 3 mechanism, automatic shifting means for the automatic means adapted for positioningthe actuating means within the operative pathof-movement of the piler mechanism whereby the feeding means is adapted to be operated simultaneously with the piler, and buffers provided for the loader adapted for automatic retraction out of the path of movement of oncoming timbers during the initial movement of said feeding means. a

' 3L In combination with a piler having vertically' movable carriers, a, loader vertically adjustably mounted upon the front of the piler and including a hinged table, feeding chains carriedby said table capable of travcling only toward the piler, and actuating means forthe'chains operatively associated with the said movable carriers- 14.. In combination with a piler having vertically movable carriers, a loader vertically adjustably mounted upon the front of the 'pile'r and including a hinged table, feeding chains carried by said tablecapable of traveling only toward the piler, trippins 11 511 saidcarriers, and actuators for" said chains adapted for automatic positioning within the path of movement of said pins normally arranged out of the path of movement thereof. d

5. In combination with a piler having vertically movable carriers, a loader vertically adjustably mounted upon the front of thepiler and including a hinged table, feeding chains carried by said table capable of traveling only toward the piler, trip pins upon said carriers, actuating springs for said chains,setting means for said springs normally arranged out of the path of movement of said pins, and automatic means adapted for shifting said setting means into the path of movement of said pins operable during the movement of an article to be loaded upon the said chains.

6. In combination with a piler having vertically movable carriers, a loader vertically adjustably mounted upon the front of the piler and including a hinged table, feeding chains carried by said table capable of traveling only toward the piler trip pins upon said carriers, actuating springs for said chains, setting means for said springs normally arranged out of the path of movement r an of said pins, automatic means adapted for shiftmg said settlng means into the path of movement of said pins operabledurmg'the Mmovement of an article to be loaded upon the sa1d chams, buffers pivoted ad acent the ally mounted for vertical movement upon the said beams at the front side of the piler, a ,table hinged to the said base and projecting substantially horizontally forwardly of the piler when arranged for use,-and timber conveying chains capable of movement in only one direction carried by the table.

8. In combination with a piler having a tower formed of upright I-beams, a loader for the piler including a base anti-friction ally mounted for vertical movement upon the said beams at the front side of the piler,

i a table hinged to the said base and projecting substantially horizontally forwardly of the piler when arranged for use, timber conveying chains capable of movement'in only one direction carried by the table, the said piler having, vertically movable carriers arranged upon said beams, trip pins upon the said carriers, and actuators for said chains, adapted for automatic positioning within the operative paths of movement of the saidpins. V I e 4 I 9. In combination witha piler having a tower formed of upright'I-beams, a loader for the piler including a base anti-frictionally mounted for vertical movement upon the said beams at the front side of the piler, a table hinged to the saidbase andprojecting substantially horizontally forwardly of the piler when arranged for use, timber conveying chains capable of movement :in only. one direction carried by the table, the said piler having vertically movable carriers arranged upon said beams, trip pinsupon the said carriers, operating springs for said chains, setting means for the said springs, trip hooks upon said setting means normally arranged out of the paths of movement of the said pins, and means operable by an oncoming article to be loaded adapted for antomatically moving the said setting means and hooks whereby the said hooks are 'oper atively arranged within the paths. of movement of said pins. 7

10. In combination with a piler having ,a tower formed of upright I-beams, a loader for the piler includinga base anti-frictionally mounted for vertical movement upon the said beams at the front side of the piler, a table hinged to the said base and projectmg substantially horizontally forwardly of the piler when arranged for use, timber con veying chains capable of movement in only tively arranged within the paths of move.

ment of said pins, buffers pivoted adjacent said chains normally extending within the oncoming path of movement of articles to be loaded, setting blocks provided for said setting means adapted for traveling simultaneously with the said hooks, and means operatively associated with the said buffers projecting within the path of movement of said blocks adapted for retracting said buffers prior to. the operative movement of the said chains.

11. In combination witha piler having a tower of I-beam format-ion, a base slidably mounted upon the I-beams of' the tower, brackets arranged at the corners of the base, rollers carried by said brackets adapted for bearing upon the opposite faces of corresponding flanges ofsaid beams, pulleys upon the top of thesaid base, a rope arranged through said pulleys, winding means for the said rope, and an automatic article feeding table hingedly carried by the said base.

12. In combination with a piler having a tower of I-beam formation, a base slidably mounted upon the I-beams of the tower, brackets arranged at the corners of the base, rollers carried by said brackets adapted for bearing upon the opposite faces of corresponding flanges of said beams, a table hinged to the said base, article feeding chains carried by the table, operating means for the said chains, and setting means for the operating means carried by the table adapted for automatic positioning in operative relations with respect to the piler.

13. In combination with a piler having a tower of I-bea-m formation, a baseslidably mounted upon, the I-beamsof the tower, brackets arranged att-he corners of the base, rollers carried by said 'bracketsadapted for bearing upon the opposite faces of corresponding flanges of said beams, pulleys upon the topof the said base, a rope-arranged through said pulleys, winding means for the said rope,f a table hinged to the said base,

article feeding chainscarried by the table, operatmg means for the sald chains, andsettlng means for the operating means carried vertically movable timber receiving carriers,

aplatform' arranged between the said carriers, timber carryingchain's upon the plat form, operating means for the said chains a, associated'with' the said carriers whereby a timber upon the chains is adapted for movement within the said "carriers when the carriers'reach a position ina course of travel adjacent the said chains, automatic means adapted for rendering the chains inopera ti've and means adapted for automatic actuation by an oncoming timber for position ing the operating meansin its operative arrangement. v

spaced arms, timber, carrying chains arranged for movement'in one direction upon the-said'arms projecting-above the tops of the arms, an operating shaft for said chains,

a i 15. Aloader for timber pilers comprising roller'clutch connections between said chains j i able turning means for the shaft having andfshaft; operatingsprings for the shaft securedat their outer; ends thereto, and releasable turning, means fortheshaft having limited movement and adapted for setting andreleasing the said springs during the operation of the device. r

, 16. Aloader for timber pilers comprising spaced arms, timber" carrying chains ar ranged for movement in one direction upon the said arms projecting above the tops of the arms, an operating shaft for said chains, roller clutch connections between said chains and shaft,'operating springs for the shaft secured at their outer ends thereto, releas limitedmovement and adapted for setting and releasing the said springs during the operationof the device,,blocks carried by the turning means, buflers arranged adja- U cent the chains normally j projecting thereabove, and retracting means for the buifers extending within the pathsof movement of the said blocks whereby the buffers are adapted for retraction prior to the-comple- L tion of the setting-of said springs by the turning: means.

171 Aloader fortimber pilers comprising spaced arms, timber fcarrying chains arranged for movement in one direction upon the said'arms projecting above the tops of the arms, an operating shaft for said chains, roller clutch connections between said chains and shaft, operating springs for the shaft secured attheir .outer ends thereto, releasable turningmeans for the shaft having limited movement and adapted for setting and releasing the. said springs duringthe opera-. tion of the device, adjustable anchoring means for the inner ends of the said springs and shock-absorbing ,means for oncoming timbers arranged adjacent the said chains adapted for automatic retraction prior to thefeeding movements of the chains during the operation of the device.

189A loader for timber pilers comprising a base, anti-friction mountingmeans for the base, aftable hinged to the base, timber carrying chains .uponthe table having paths of movement toward the said base, operating springs for the chainsadapted for moving the chains upon the reflex action of the springs, winding-means for the springs, and means "adapted for preventing any movement ofthe chainsduring the winding op eration but permitting the feeding movement "of the chains after the completion of thewinding operation and adjustable anchoring means for the'adjacent ends of the springs.

19; A loader for timber pilers comprising a base, anti-friction mounting means for the base, a table hinged to the base, timber carrying chains upon the table having paths of movement toward the said base, operating, springs for the chains adapted for moving the chains upon the reflex action of the springs, winding means for the springs, means adapted for preventing any movement of the chains during the winding operation shut permitting the feeding movementof' the chains after the completion of the winding operation and adjustable anchoring means for the adjacent ends of the springs, retractable buffers carried by the table normallyprojecting above said chains within thepath of movement of oncoming beams,"retractingmeans for the said buffers, and meansfcarried by the winding ,means adapted for operating the retracting means prior to thejcompletion of the winding operation. a j 20; A loader for timber pilers comprising a base, anti-frictionmounting means for the base, a'table hinged to the base, timber carrying chains upon the table having paths of movement towardthe saidbase, operat' ing springs for the chains adapted for moving the chains uponthe reflex action of the springs,- winding means for the springs, means adapted for preventing any movement of the chains during the winding operation but permitting the feeding movementlof the chains after the completion of the winding operation and adjustable anchoring means for the adjacent ends of the springs,retractable buffers carried by the table normally projecting above said chains within the path of movement of oncoming beams, retracting means for the said buffers, means carried by the winding' means adapted for operating the retracting means prior to the completion of the winding operation-whereby the chains are adapted for feeding movement toward the base prion to the return of said buffers to their operative positions, trip hooks upon the winding means, and trip pins adapted for attachment to vertically movable portions of the piler adapted for operative engagement with the said hooks when the piler is in operation.

21. In combination with a piler having vertically movable timber carriers, a loader for the piler vertically adjustably arranged between the said carriers, a power plant upon the piler, a hoisting rope shiftably connected to the loader, winding connections between the said power plant and rope, and a controllling lever for said connections at the opposite ends of the piler.

22. In combination with a piler having vertically movable timber carriers, a loader for the piler vertically adjustably arranged between the said carriers, a power plant upon the piler, a hoisting rope shiftably connected to the loader, winding connections between the said power plant and rope, a controlling lever for said connections at the opposite ends of the piler, the said loader including a hinged table, timber feeding chains upon the table adapted for movement only toward the piler operating'means for the chains, and setting means for the operating means operatively associated with the said carriers whereby the operating means is set and released during the upward movement of the carriers when the piler is in operation.

23. In combination with a piler having vertically movable timber carriers, a loader for the piler vertically adjustably arranged between the said carriers, a power plant upon the piler, a hoisting rope shift-ably connected to the loader, winding connections between the said power plant and rope. a controlling lever for said connections at the opposite ends of the piler, thesaid loader including a hinged table, timber feeding chains upon the table adapted for movement only toward the piler operating means for the chains, setting means for the operating means operatively associated with the said carriers whereby the operating means is set and released during the upward movement of the carriers when the piler is in operation, automatic retracting means for the operating means, and operative positioning means for the operating means adapted for actuationby an oncoming timber arranged upon the table.

24. In combination with a piler having vertically movable timber carriers, a loader for the piler vertically adjustably arranged between the said carriers, a power plant upon the piler, a hoisting rope shiftably connected to the loader winding connections between the said power plant and rope, a controlling lever for said, connections atthe opposite ends of the piler, the said loader including a hinged table, timber feeding chains upon the table adapted for movement only toward the piler operating means for the chains, setting means for the operat means for the operating means adapted for actuation by an oncoming timber arranged upon the table, bufiiers carried by the table normally positioned within the path of movement of oncoming timbers, and retracting means for the buffers operatively associated with the setting means whereby the bufiers are automatically retracted prior to the feeding movements of thesaid chains.

25. In combination with a piler having vertically movable timber carriers, a loader for the piler vertically adjustably arranged between the said carriers, a power plant upon the piler, a hoisting rope shiftably connected to the loader, winding connections between the said power plant and rope, a controlling lever for said connections-at the opposite ends of the piler, the said loader including ahinged table, timber feeding chains upon the table adapted for movement only toward the piler operating means'for thech-alins, setting means for the operating means operatively associated with the said carriers whereby the operating means is set and released during the upward movement of the carriers when the 'piler is in operation, automatic retracting means for the operating means, operative positioning means for the operating means adapted for actuation by anoncoming timber arranged upon the table, buffers carried by the table normally positioned within the path of movement of oncoming timbers, retractin means for the buffers operatively associated with the setting means whereby the bufiers are automatically retracted prior to the feeding movements-of the said chains, and adjustable tensioning means for the operating means adapted for timing the feeding operations of the chains whereby timber mountedthe-reon will be advanced in a step-by-step movement for reception within successive carriers of the piler In testimony whereof we afliX our signatures.

JAMES O. BRADNEY. HENRY PRIESTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. I

It is hereby certified that Letters Patent No. 1,311,210, granted July 29, 1919,

upon the application of James O. Bradney and Henry Priester, of Middietown, New

York, for an improvement in Automatic Loaders for Tie and Timber Pilers, were erroneously issued to the inventors, said Bradney and Priester, as owners of said invention, whereas said Letters Patent should have been issued to Bradney Machine Oompany, Inc, of Middletown, New York, a corporation of New York, said corporation being assignee of the entire interest in said invention, as shown by the record of assignments in this ofiice; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 2nd day of September, A. D. 1919.

[SEAL] M. H. OOULSTON,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. Cl. 193-24. 

